Welcome Letter/Sample Syllabus Phil 206

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Introduction to Philosophy/Phil 206 DE/CRN 50009 (Summer)
NOTE to Cal Poly Students. If you are still in finals the first week of this class, just let me know and I can work with you to keep you on track.

Welcome Online Learners!

My name is Dr. Cheryl Genet and I am the instructor for the upcoming online version of Introduction to Philosophy (Phil 206). In this course we will take a fascinating journey together that will deepen our appreciation of the development of the Western mind, the Western worldview, of which most of you are the beneficiaries. We will trace important philosophical threads from the early natural philosophers, through Classical Greek thought, the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, the Rise of Science, and the development of the modern mind, to our current global times. I look forward to getting to know each of you who enroll (are enrolled) and assisting you in achieving the learning outcomes below.

This course compresses 18 weeks of a regular semester into 8 weeks. As per requirements for shortened courses, it still covers most of the 18 weeks of material—I have modified it slightly but be prepared.

PHIL 206 Student Learning Outcomes

Students who successfully complete a course in Philosophy at Cuesta College will have demonstrated the ability to:

Interpret primary source texts in philosophy
Express, explain, and defend philosophical ideas in writing and/or verbally
Distinguish between the basic concerns and questions at issue in the three major branches of Western philosophy: metaphysics, epistemology, and ethics
Understand how western philosophy has changed and developed over the course of history
Identify, explain, and evaluate philosophical theories and arguments

Communication

It is preferred that if you have a question or concern or other communication that you email me at cheryl_genet@cuesta.edu I will answer your email as soon as possible, but at the minimum within 24 hours, Monday-Saturday.
If you need to call me and speak personally, do not hesitate. You can reach me at 805-438-4088.

Basic Course Information

This philosophy course is an exploration of the development of the Western worldview, including the development of science and the impact of science, philosophy, and theology upon one another.

The required textbook is:

Gaarder, Jostein. 1994. Sophie’s World: A Novel about the History of Philosophy. Trans.by Paulette Møller. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux.
NOTE: Online versions of this book do not have page numbers consistent with the hard copy. You can work around this, but it is a considerable handicap.

WHAT TO EXPECT: This course is fully online—there are no meetings—nevertheless it has regular assignments, quizzes, and forum posts with specific weekly due dates. It also requires watching one or two videos per week (3 minutes to 30 minutes), necessitating internet usage time. If you are not prepared to stay on top of assignments throughout each week, this may not be the best class for you.

There are 4 synchronous online tests that must be taken between 7:00 and 10:00 pm on 2 specified Monday nights. If you have any problem with this please let me know at the beginning of class. We can make arrangements. The four tests together comprise your “final”)

Once enrolled you should print out a copy of the syllabus and class schedule, which you will find in the Canvas website for this class and have it available hard copy to assist you in assignment planning.

Important Considerations

While Distance Education courses have many benefits in allowing for flexible schedules and a rewarding learning experience, there are a number of things you should know about this course right from the start:

This course is designed for those who are computer literate. If you are not both confident and comfortable working with e-mail, word processing, and the Internet, as well as downloading and attaching files, then the online version of PHIL 206 is not for you; I recommend taking the course in the traditional classroom setting instead.
This course requires a great deal of self-motivation. It is the learner’s responsibility to keep on top of the reading assignments, to log on to the course website regularly, and to submit assignments and take quizzes by their due date, and access email regularly for instructor communications. Thus, I recommend this course only to those who are both well-organized and self-disciplined.
An online course requires roughly the same number of hours and participation as a face-to-face class. You should expect to invest 48 hours of various types of learning and participation for each unit of credit. This is a 3 unit course for 17 weeks (of instruction) which works out to 144 hours. That seems like a lot of hours so break that down by week and it comes to 8.5 hours per week. Based on this a good rule of thumb, to make sure you have adequate time, would be to set aside at least this many hours per week.

You may want to read the Are You Ready for an Online Class?Links to an external site. which can be found on the Canvas website for this class, to help you evaluate your success in online learning. It also contains many ideas on how to achieve that success.

Technical Support

Cuesta students are encouraged to direct all technical support inquiries to support@my.cuesta.edu. If you are having issues with Canvas, you should contact the Canvas Support Hotline at (877) 921-7680, or click on the help button on the Canvas Navigation to report a problem.

If you are having difficulty viewing the course or logging in, it may be because you are not using the correct url: https://cuesta.instructure.com/ or you are using your phone or using an unsupported browser.

Your learning environment is best accessed from a desktop or laptop computer, using Firefox or Chrome. This may solve your problem! Please review the browser requirements and minimum computer specificationsLinks to an external site. at:

Accommodations:

This course is designed using an accessible Learning Management System, and course materials have been created with ADA compliance in mind. If you have a disability and might need accommodations in this class such as extended time on exams or other resources. Please contact the instructor as soon as possible so that you can receive appropriate accommodations in a timely manner. You should also contact DSPS (Disabled Student Programs & Services)Links to an external site. at 805-546-3148 or

College & Course Policies:

Academic Honesty Policy: [Identify your course specific academic honesty policy]. In addition to my course policy, please note all students attending San Luis Obispo County Community College District at any district site and when representing Cuesta College in any off-campus activity, assume an obligation to conduct themselves in an acceptable manner compatible with the Student Code of conduct. Please review the Cuesta College Student Code of conductLinks to an external site. at:

Add / Drop Policy: [Identify your course-specific add/drop policy] In addition to my policy, please review the Cuesta policy for drops

Waitlist Policy: [Identify your course-specific waitlist procedures]. In addition to my course specific procedures, please review Cuesta’s waitlist procedure and instructionsLinks to an external site.

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[{:section_type=>"rich_text", :content=>"Introduction to Philosophy/Phil 206 DE/CRN 50009 (Summer) NOTE to Cal Poly Students. If you are still in finals the first week of this class, just let me know and I can work with you to keep you on track.\n<h1>Welcome Online Learners!</h1>\nMy name is Dr. Cheryl Genet and I am the instructor for the upcoming online version of Introduction to Philosophy (Phil 206). In this course we will take a fascinating journey together that will deepen our appreciation of the development of the Western mind, the Western worldview, of which most of you are the beneficiaries. We will trace important philosophical threads from the early natural philosophers, through Classical Greek thought, the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, the Rise of Science, and the development of the modern mind, to our current global times. &nbsp;I look forward to getting to know each of you who enroll (are enrolled) and assisting you in achieving the learning outcomes below.\nThis course compresses 18 weeks of a regular semester into 8 weeks. As per requirements for shortened courses, it still covers most of the 18 weeks of material—I have modified it slightly but be prepared.\n<h1>PHIL 206 Student Learning Outcomes</h1>\nStudents who successfully complete a course in Philosophy at Cuesta College will have demonstrated the ability to:\n<ul>\n<li>Interpret primary source texts in philosophy</li>\n<li>Express, explain, and defend philosophical ideas in writing and/or verbally</li>\n<li>Distinguish between the basic concerns and questions at issue in the three major branches of Western philosophy: metaphysics, epistemology, and ethics</li>\n<li>Understand how western philosophy has changed and developed over the course of history</li>\n<li>Identify, explain, and evaluate philosophical theories and arguments</li>\n</ul>\n<h1>Communication</h1>\n<ul>\n<li>It is preferred that if you have a question or concern or other communication that you email me at <a href=\"mailto:cheryl_genet@cuesta.edu\">cheryl_genet@cuesta.edu</a> I will answer your email as soon as possible, but at the minimum within 24 hours, Monday-Saturday.</li>\n<li>If you need to call me and speak personally, do not hesitate. You can reach me at 805-438-4088.</li>\n</ul>\n<h1>Basic Course Information</h1>\nThis philosophy course is an exploration of the development of the Western worldview, including the development of science and the impact of science, philosophy, and theology upon one another.\nThe required textbook is:\nGaarder, Jostein.&nbsp; 1994.&nbsp; Sophie’s World: A Novel about the History of Philosophy. Trans.by Paulette Møller.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux. NOTE: Online versions of this book do not have page numbers consistent with the hard copy. You can work around this, but it is a considerable handicap.\nWHAT TO EXPECT: This course is fully online—there are no meetings—nevertheless it has regular assignments, quizzes, and forum posts with specific weekly due dates.&nbsp; It also requires watching one or two videos per week (3 minutes to 30 minutes), necessitating internet usage time.&nbsp; If you are not prepared to stay on top of assignments throughout each week, this may not be the best class for you.\nThere are 4 synchronous online tests that must be taken between 7:00 and 10:00 pm on 2 specified Monday nights.&nbsp; If you have any problem with this please let me know at the beginning of class. We can make arrangements.&nbsp; The four tests together comprise your “final”)\n&nbsp;Once enrolled you should print out a copy of the syllabus and class schedule, which you will find in the Canvas website for this class and have it available hard copy to assist you in assignment planning.\n<h1>Important Considerations</h1>\nWhile Distance Education courses have many benefits in allowing for flexible schedules and a rewarding learning experience, there are a number of things you should know about this course right from the start:\n<ol>\n<li>This course is designed for those who are computer literate. If you are not both confident and comfortable working with e-mail, word processing, and the Internet, as well as downloading and attaching files, then the online version of PHIL 206 is not for you; I recommend taking the course in the traditional classroom setting instead.</li>\n<li>This course requires a great deal of self-motivation. It is the learner’s responsibility to keep on top of the reading assignments, to log on to the course website regularly, and to submit assignments and take quizzes by their due date, and access email regularly for instructor communications. Thus, I recommend this course only to those who are both well-organized and self-disciplined.</li>\n<li>An online course requires roughly the same number of hours and participation as a face-to-face class. You should expect to invest 48 hours of various types of learning and participation for each unit of credit. This is a 3 unit course for 17 weeks (of instruction) which works out to 144 hours.&nbsp; That seems like a lot of hours so break that down by week and it comes to 8.5 hours per week. Based on this a good rule of thumb, to make sure you have adequate time, would be to set aside at least this many hours per week.</li>\n</ol>\n<ol start=\"4\">\n<li>You may want to read the<a class=\"external\" href=\"http://apps.3cmediasolutions.org/oei/\" target=\"_blank\"> Are You Ready for an Online Class?Links to an external site.</a> which can be found on the Canvas website for this class, to help you evaluate your success in online learning. It also contains many ideas on how to achieve that success.</li>\n</ol>\n<h1>Technical Support</h1>\nCuesta students are encouraged to direct all technical support inquiries to&nbsp; <a href=\"mailto:support@my.cuesta.edu\">support@my.cuesta.edu</a>. If you are having issues with Canvas, you should contact the Canvas Support Hotline at (877) 921-7680, or click on the help button on the Canvas Navigation to report a problem.\nIf you are having difficulty viewing the course or logging in, it may be because you are not using the correct url: https://cuesta.instructure.com/ or you are using your phone or using an unsupported browser.\nYour learning environment is best accessed from a desktop or laptop computer, using Firefox or Chrome.&nbsp; This may solve your problem!&nbsp; Please review the <a class=\"external\" href=\"http://www.cuesta.edu/student/aboutacad/distance/faqs_technical.html\" target=\"_blank\">browser requirements and minimum computer specificationsLinks to an external site.</a> at:\n<h1>Accommodations:</h1>\nThis course is designed using an accessible Learning Management System, and course materials have been created with ADA compliance in mind. If you have a disability and might need accommodations in this class such as extended time on exams or other resources. Please contact the instructor as soon as possible so that you can receive appropriate accommodations in a timely manner. You should also contact <a class=\"external\" href=\"http://www.cuesta.edu/student/studentservices/dsps/index.html\" target=\"_blank\">DSPS (Disabled Student Programs &amp; Services)Links to an external site.</a> at 805-546-3148 or\n<h1>College &amp; Course Policies:</h1>\nAcademic Honesty Policy: [Identify your course specific academic honesty policy]. In addition to my course policy, please note all students attending San Luis Obispo County Community College District at any district site and when representing Cuesta College in any off-campus activity, assume an obligation to conduct themselves in an acceptable manner compatible with the Student Code of conduct. Please review the <a class=\"external\" href=\"https://www.cuesta.edu/about/documents/vpss-docs/Academic_Honesty_Agreement.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">Cuesta College Student Code of conductLinks to an external site.</a> at:\nAdd / Drop Policy: [Identify your course-specific add/drop policy] In addition to my policy, please review the Cuesta policy for drops\n<ul>\n<li><a class=\"external\" href=\"https://www.cuesta.edu/student/studentservices/admrreg/arpolicies/addcourse.html\" target=\"_blank\">Add PolicyLinks to an external site.</a></li>\n<li><a class=\"external\" href=\"https://www.cuesta.edu/student/studentservices/admrreg/arpolicies/dropcourse.html\" target=\"_blank\">Drop PolicyLinks to an external site.</a></li>\n</ul>\nWaitlist Policy: [Identify your course-specific waitlist procedures]. In addition to my course specific procedures, please review <a class=\"external\" href=\"http://www.cuesta.edu/student/studentservices/admrreg/arpolicies/Waitlist.html\" target=\"_blank\">Cuesta’s waitlist procedure and instructionsLinks to an external site.</a>"}]